Mcelhone
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic phrase "Mac Ill'Eathain" meaning "son of the Hutcheson".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 548 Americans carry the last name Mcelhone. That puts it at #45,653 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.16 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 625,464 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcelhone surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
548
1 in 625,464
Census rank
#45,653
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
468
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 468 bearers of the surname Mcelhone in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 45653rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcelhone, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.3%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcelhone
The surname McElhone has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the Middle Ages around the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Elchyn" or "Elchine," which may have roots in the word "ealchainn," meaning "swan" or "elk."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 14th century in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a person named "Ade Makclechin" is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originally been spelled as "MacClechin" or a similar variation.
The McElhone surname is particularly associated with the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in western Scotland, where it is believed to have originated. It is possible that the name was connected to a specific location or land holding, as was common with many Scottish surnames.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name was John McElhone, who was a prominent merchant and burgess of Glasgow in the mid-1500s. Records from this time period also show variations in spelling, such as "McIlhone" and "McYlhone."
During the 17th century, the surname appears in various historical documents, including parish records and court proceedings. One notable individual from this era was Robert McElhone, a Presbyterian minister born in Ayrshire around 1620, who was involved in the religious conflicts of the time.
In the 18th century, the McElhone surname continued to be found in Scottish records, particularly in the counties of Ayr and Lanark. One individual of note was James McElhone, born in 1745, who served as a soldier in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.
As the centuries progressed, the McElhone surname spread beyond Scotland, with some bearers immigrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to various corners of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
While not an exhaustive list, some other notable individuals with the McElhone surname throughout history include: William McElhone (1819-1889), a Scottish-born Australian politician; John McElhone (1836-1916), an Irish-born American businessman and philanthropist; and Thomas McElhone (1871-1945), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and lawyer.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcelhone
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcelhone, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.3%.
The bar chart below shows how Mcelhone bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mcelhone surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.3%
- Unknown or suppressed1.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcelhone surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44,654 | #45,653 | -2.2% |
| Count | 453 | 468 | 3.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.17 | 0.16 | -5.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcelhone bearers went from 453 to 468 (+3.3% change). The surname moved down 999 positions in the national ranking, going from #44,654 to #45,653.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcelhone
FAQ
Mcelhone surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcelhone?
The surname Mcelhone holds position #45,653 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 548 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcelhone surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcelhone, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.3%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.